Welcome to the E3 Community Campaign
Empowering our communities for a more sustainable and equitable future!
What Does E3 Do?
Our Mission
Energy Efficiency Empowerment (E3) transforms home renovation by significantly reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling, contributing to lower carbon emissions and climate preservation. We strive to build equity for lower to middle-income households by integrating sustainable solutions that enhance home performance and affordability.
We achieve our goals by providing nonprofit affordable housing developers with additional funding, technical expertise, new technologies, measurements, and quality assurance.
Core Values
Community Leadership: We center our work on community input and leadership.
Sustainability: We are committed to creating lasting environmental change.
Equity: We direct effort and resources to disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Learn more about the people behind the E3 project here!
Take a look at some of the E3 Projects!
Learn more about the E3 Buildings Up Team’s Community Accountability Plan!
Heat Pump Water Heaters
Why Heat Pump Water Heaters?
As the effects of global warming continue to become more extreme and destructive, energy-efficient technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions must be prioritized. One such technology is the residential air source heat pump water heater (Heat Pump Water Heater).
As a replacement for gas or electric resistance water heaters, Heat Pump Water Heaters can significantly reduce energy use while providing reliable hot water for homes. When replacing electric storage tanks, Heat Pump Water Heaters also save households about $300-$400 in annual electricity costs (actual utility savings may depend on utility rates and household usage).
Without flammable gas and combustion emissions, heat pump water heaters are also inherently safer than their gas counterparts. Because they do not burn gas, they are also better for indoor air quality, leading to healthier homes.
With rising global temperatures, we need to cool our spaces more frequently. With a higher energy demand, we are then expected to pay more for utilities. Upgrading appliances and home efficiency improvements, like weatherization, can significantly reduce our energy use and lessen our climate impact.
How do Heat Pump Water Heaters Work?
Water heaters are appliances that create and provide hot water for households. They provide water to appliances like sinks, showers, dishwashers, etc.
Think of it like a reverse refrigerator.
While a refrigerator makes things cold by removing heat from an enclosed box and sending that heat out to the surrounding air, a Heat Pump Water Heater takes heat from the surrounding air and transfers it to water in an enclosed tank. As a result, they are two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters.
Pros and Cons of Heat Pump Water Heaters
Pros:
- Lower Climate Pollution. It’s good for the environment!
- Save $ On Utilities (Especially if you have an electric heater now)
- Reduce The Risk of Gas Leaks
- Dehumidify Your Space without a separate dehumidifier
- Improve Indoor Air Quality
- Home equity benefits from home appliance upgrade
Cons:
- Warming water takes longer. If sized incorrectly, it might not keep up with your warm water needs
- Filters need to be cleaned every few months
- Your basement will feel colder
- Heat Pump Water Heaters have a fan that makes noise (quieter than a dryer)
How to Get Involved?
Community Partners of the Hot Water Heater Program:
- East Hills: East Hills Consensus Group (EHCG)
- Sharpsburg: Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization (SNO)
- Hazelwood: Hazelwood Initiative (HI)
Residents of participating communities can take advantage of our program:
Program Overview: E3’s Hot Water Heater Program helps homeowners replace their aging water heaters with more efficient electric Heat Pump Water Heaters at no cost, while the funding is available. This initiative aims to improve energy efficiency, specifically in undeserved communities.
Eligibility:
- You must have a water heater that is at least 10 years old or malfunctioning.
- Your space must meet the electrical and space requirements for a heat pump water heater.
- The program is offered to residents currently enrolled in Duquesne Light Co. Customer Assistance Program (CAP).
- Participants are required to share utility data and participate in brief feedback surveys.
Process:
- Complete an intake form and provide photos of your existing water heater to info@eeepgh.org or by texting them to E3’s contact number: (412) 508-4219
- Set up an estimate with an E3-recommended installer.
- Share utility data with the program administrator.
- Eligibility is confirmed, and you will be invited to sign the paperwork with the program administrator outlining each party’s roles.
- Schedule an installation and approve work when finished.
- E3 applies for any credits towards equipment installation on your behalf and issues payment to the installer for the remaining balance.
- Post-install, accept E3 quality assurance visit and respond to feedback surveys.
Household Water Conservation – Do Your Part!
Water is one of the most precious resources on our planet, yet many of us use more than we realize. Explore this section to understand your household water usage and learn simple strategies to reduce it, save money, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
The average family can waste 180 gallons per week, or 9,400 gallons of water annually, from household leaks. That’s equivalent to the amount of water needed to wash more than 300 loads of laundry. – U.S. EPA, WaterSense: Statistics & Facts
Performing a home water audit can help you understand your own water usage! Try using the EPA’s WaterSense Calculator: This tool helps estimate household water use, as well as potential savings from using WaterSense-labeled products like low-flow faucets and efficient toilets.
Want a more in-depth look at your household water usage? The Home Water Works Calculator is designed for U.S. users and allows you to input data about your home’s fixtures, appliances, and outdoor use, giving a customized estimate of indoor and outdoor water use.
The average family spends more than $1,000 per year in water costs, but can save more than $380 annually from retrofitting with WaterSense labeled fixtures and ENERGY STAR certified appliances. – U.S. EPA, WaterSense: Statistics & Facts
What Heat Pump is Right For You?
Selecting a Heat Pump Size and Model
Understanding your household’s hot water use is essential to selecting a system to meet your needs. The E3 staff will work with you to determine what Heat Pump Water Heater is right for you and your household.
Bath & Shower Usage: Consider the frequency of showers, the number of people living in your home, and the average length of showers taken.
Dishwasher: Keep in mind that most machine dishwashers use hot water to clean dishes.
Laundry Machines: Consider switching your washing machine settings to “Warm” instead of “Hot” to reduce the hot water usage of your laundry appliances.
General Sink Hot Water Use: Hand-washing dishes use more water than the average dishwashing machine. Most faucets flow around 15 gallons for every five minutes the faucet runs.